Venezuela rejects US accusations against officials

CARACAS, Venezuela 
Venezuela is protesting a U.S. government decision to blacklist four allies of President Hugo Chavez for allegedly aiding Colombian rebels.

The state-run AVN news agency says the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry made a formal complaint to the top official at the U.S. Embassy, Kelly Keiderling.

The agency said Deputy Foreign Minister Temir Porras presented the complaint to Keiderling at a meeting on Friday.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday accused a powerful Venezuelan general, an intelligence official and two political allies of Chavez of providing arms, security and training to Colombia's main rebel group.